Teaching Writing Skills to the Reluctant Writer | HONEST REVIEW of Night Zookeeper

[@TheJohnsonCrew]

Writing sentences for spelling & vocab can bring my 3rd grader to tears!! Definitely going to have to try this out!! Thanks for sharing!

[@SevenInAll]

I'm sorry it's been a rough road to writing! I know that's the story for many, many kids. I think that was a big motivation for the creators of this game!

[@TheJohnsonCrew]

@@SevenInAll It can be frustrating for sure! Well that's just awesome!

[@Blessedbears]

Never heard of this program! Thanks for sharing! I will pass this along to some friends!

[@SevenInAll]

Thanks, Tiffany!

[@IloveLunches]

I have to remember that when it comes to my daughter with her homeschooling. I stay with her the entire time to make sure everything is going smooth. and help her to understand what’s going on I find myself getting frustrated sometimes thank you for the friendly reminder that just because I like something it doesn’t mean that she does.i have to be more open.

[@SevenInAll]

So true, Jennifer!

[@emmesfamilyadventures]

I've seen ads of Night Zookeeper. I might have to try it with my son. Thanks for the review

[@SevenInAll]

Thanks for watching!

[@IloveLunches]

Hi Rachel, here watching always so curious to watch your videos.

[@SevenInAll]

Thank you so much for all your support, Jennifer!

[@rafsworldtravel]

Our son has been using NZK for almost two years and he loves it. He was a reluctant writer before using the app, but now he’s far more into it. Thanks for the honest review, Rachel ; you’re so right about tech being motivating when used sparingly :)

[@SevenInAll]

That's awesome that he's been using it for that long and that you've been able to see the difference over time!

[@HomeschoolwithJen]

Thank you so much for this review. I have a reluctant writer. I appreciate this review since your younger sister is the same age range as my daughter.

[@SevenInAll]

Glad it was helpful!

[@keeperofmyhome]

I always appreciate your content Rachel!! Creative writing has always been part of me too!!! My first book was in first grade and was about a leprechaun! 😆💕

[@SevenInAll]

Aww! haha, that's too funny. Do you still have it?

[@keeperofmyhome]

@@SevenInAll I believe my mom still does... maybe i should ask for it.. 🙋🏽‍♀️💕💕

[@AmongStouts]

I have a reluctant writer, which was so hard for me to handle initially because writing is something I enjoy and has always come easy to me! I’m definitely going to check this out.☺️

[@SevenInAll]

I totally understand that! Writing was my first love and always made sense, it comes as a shock when you first face working with a child who isn't interested in writing anything!

[@mommyonthemove25]

Great review Rachel. I've heard of Zookeeper and seen adds of their program. I was very curious. Sounds like something my girls would enjoy 🤔

[@SevenInAll]

Thanks, Yasmine! I think kids really enjoy it.

[@sarahmora5207]

What a neat curriculum! My daughter will love this whenever she is ready for writing.😊

[@SevenInAll]

Kids always get excited to play a game and consider it part of schoolwork! :)

[@antiebebiepobrengvlogger914]

Hello friend thank you for sharing this video to us .

[@HoloHoloAdventures]

I have to look into this. My oldest daughter is not a fan of reading and writing but love to be on her iPad. So anything that involves the use of technology I am willing to try to help her in that department

[@SevenInAll]

Technology can definitely help "lure" kids into learning! :)

[@simplejoyfilledliving]

They reached out to me to review their program a few months ago, but I didn’t do it because my daughter wasn’t quite ready for it yet. It looked pretty good though.

[@SevenInAll]

Yes, I don't think it's for kids who are just beginning to read and write, but it's fun for kids who have the mechanics down, but not a whole lot of motivation to actually write.

[@IloveLunches]

I need to look up that computer game

[@SevenInAll]

The kids have a lot of fun with it!

[@pinkorganichorse]

How many siblings do you have?

[@keeperofmyhome]

“Not everybody thinks that writing is the funnest thing in the whole world..” so true .. shock but unfortunately true.. 🙁☺️

[@SevenInAll]

haha! Yep, I definitely was surprised, since it was always a great love of mine!

[@sklanguage589]

Maybe in a future video we will see how you teach writing or your feedback on your sisters’ writing. Your method is so different from mine. I follow Charlotte Mason. . She once said, Lessons on 'composition' should follow the model of that famous essay on "Snakes in Ireland"--"There are none."

[@SevenInAll]

I fully admit I know very little about the whole Charlotte Mason philosophy--I mostly know that there are many on social media who get into arguments about whether certain practices are aligned with Charlotte Mason philosophy or not. I just do my own thing, haha! I do tend to think that guidance and talking through ways to improve a writing project are very helpful, mainly based on my own experience of writing. I would say my approach, particularly with the high schooler, is more like that of an editor, as in, the editors that authors work with to create their books. I'm the annoying voice that says, "I'm not feeling persuaded by this argument, how do you think you could strengthen it?" and "But this plot point doesn't make any sense...what can you do to bring consistency to the story?" "I have never heard a human speak like this in my entire like, how could you make this sound more natural?" My big deal with younger kids is don't write anything unless it's going to be worth reading, don't put words on a page unless you're going to say something that's actually interesting...which is why I say most people probably wouldn't like my kind of feedback, ha! I always come back to the idea that writing isn't about word count or filling the page, it's about actually putting heart and meaning into what you write.

[@MindyourMatters]

Thank you!

[@SevenInAll]

Thank you for watching!

[@momvanup]

I have a reluctant writer, but he 4.5! I'll give him a few more years! Haha

[@SevenInAll]

haha! Yeah, that sounds like a good plan!

[@edmund6392]

"Sister"...I am confused. Did you mean "daughter". Great review.

[@SevenInAll]

Nope, my sons are not old enough to learn how to write yet. :) I help out with my youngest sisters' homeschool routine because my mom works full time.

[@lisaroper421]

Oh, my goodness! The sister who likes her professors grading more than you doing it 😂 My husband was in a position to take a law class from his sister, and all the other teachers were worried she would give him preferential treatment. All of us in the family knew she was much more likely to be too hard on him!! 😂😂😂

[@SevenInAll]

That's just what "professor sisters" are like. haha!

[@marysmemoriesinmotion8537]

Night Zookeeper sounds fun. However, I think I would want to be their "tutor" just to provide them a little bit more feedback :-)

[@SevenInAll]

haha, yes! I have done that a few times already, haha!

[@IloveLunches]

👍💖25

[@SevenInAll]

Thank you!